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The Hokies enter their first true road test of the season 2-0 while the Panthers have hobbled their way to an 0-2 start. Still, Pittsburgh is a talented team despite their lackluster offensive output so far this season. As week three commences, we return with our 3rd installment of our Virginia Tech Fan Roundtable series. This week, we are joined by Chris from Gobblercountry.com. A big thanks to Chris for helping us out this week. If you don't mind, please give him a follow on Twitter and of course check out his blog over at Gobbler Country. Alright, let's talk Virginia Tech football.
1. Even though the Hokies beat Austin Peay by 35 points, is there any reason for concern after a lackluster performance against a cellar-dwelling FCS team?
HokieG: Not yet. These first 2 games involved some unusual scheduling, quirky opponents, and frankly the Hokies have looked good on defense and mediocre on offense – exactly what we expected. Logan Thomas hasn’t been as sharp as we expected but considering his new supporting cast I think we still need to give him a few more games of slack before we worry.
Remember we lost to the FCS team 2 years ago so a 42-7 win is not the end of the world. This weekend’s game vs Pitt on the road will be much more telling.
JustinC: I really don't think we should dwell on the negatives too much in this case. Rewind back to 2010 when Virginia Tech lost to JMU on the same short-week deal. A lot of HokieNation was in panic mode but that team bounced back to win the ACC Championship. While I would have liked to have seen some dominance on Virginia Tech's part, just to get the backups some extended reps, I don't think you should put a whole lot of stock in this performance alone. If Tech struggles in the same area this weekend then yea, there will be some major concerns going forward.
Bryan: I definitely don't think there is a reason to panic, however, some things in the Austin Peay game are a concern. We need to settle on an offensive line. Offensive line plays needs cohesion. I realize Miller was injured but we need to settle on a right guard. The running game will eventually take off. The two young running backs are fine.
Chris: Yeah, I think there is some legitimate reason for concern. For those of us who watched the game, it was a painful affair. Even though the Hokies won by 35, they weren't truly dominant for most of the game. Offensively, the line got very little push in the run game. There were some mistakes defensively (missed tackles and blown coverages). The play-calling at times was as bad as Hokies remember it being several years ago. The worst thing is the appearance that we played to the level of our competition, something we've seen twice already in two games this year, and many times in the past. I think that those are all legitimate concerns going forward. But it's not all gloom and doom. We haven't breezed through it, but we are 2-0, and at the end of the year, the only thing that counts is your record...oh, and that you play in the SEC.
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2. Now that the Hokies have completed 1/6 of their regular season, what offensive or defensive units have exceeded your expectations?
HokieG: The safeties – Keyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner - have probably exceeded mainly because they jump off the screen with playmaking. But they really haven’t been tested with a good passing defense. Jack Tyler would be the other guy that has exceeded my expectations. I’m also bullish on A.J. Hughes the punter, as long as you block out his dropped punt early in the GT game.
JustinC: I don't think any unit on offense has succeeded expectations so far. Logan Thomas has been good in spots, albeit a tad inconsistent at times. The wide receivers have shown some flashes, the running backs have looked good when given the opportunity to succeed, and the offensive line has done OK for the most part. Defensively though, I really like how our linebackers have played. Jack Tyler is just a tackling machine at MIKE linebacker and I think he'll keep the starting job even if Tariq Edwards makes his way back from injury this season. I'm still waiting for the defensive line to have a breakout performance but to their credit, our first two opponents were extremely run heavy offenses. We'll see what that group can do against Pittsburgh this weekend, as the Panthers will likely throw the ball 25-plus times on Saturday.
Bryan: On offense, Corey Fuller of the wide receiver corps has been the most pleasant surprise. No one was expecting him to step up and have to contribute this much but he has and now he is an indispensable part of the offense. On defense, I have to say linebacker. With two starters (Edwards and Taylor) missing time, Jack Tyler has been his usual reliable self. Chase Williams has gotten an opportunity and performed well. The biggest boost for this unit: senior Jeron Gouveia-Winslow. He has finally put everything together and become a good player. The potential was always there but you were always left feeling they could improve the position with someone else. He is flying all over the field this year and an important part of the defense.
Chris: I guess the most complimentary thing I can say about this team is that they defended Georgia Tech the best I can remember them doing since Paul Johnson stepped on campus. That and Logan Thomas is clutch. He is unfazed by pressure. The plays he makes in crunch time are proof positive that he's exactly the kind of quarterback you want. Also, this isn't an entire unit, but if Corey Fuller were in fact a unit, I would say he exceeded my expectations. The other receivers? Not so much. They've been average. But Fuller all by himself has been our second-best offensive player to date. I think that's pretty amazing considering there were doubts about whether or not he could be our FOURTH receiver coming into the year. He's answered that question emphatically. He went from a no-name to a legit NFL prospect (according to NFL scouts at the GT game) in one game.
3. Through two games, Virginia Tech is 74th nationally in rushing. How much of a concern is it that the Hokies haven't established the ground game yet?
HokieG: This is probably my biggest worry. Michael Holmes passes the eye test for me. J.C Coleman is going to be a great player but is green and had that early fumble Saturday. The whole 'run game operation’ hasn’t kicked into 100% efficiency yet (offensive line, tight ends, running backs) and Virginia Tech isn’t successful without a good run game operation.
There is still time and promise that it will come together and don’t think we should panic yet.
JustinC: Our whole offensive philosophy is based on our running back being able to pickup yards on the ground. Now, before we panic, Michael Holmes and JC Coleman have been productive at running back but neither has seen a whole lot of reps. Holmes has just 22 carries this season through two games. Coleman only has 10. Both have shown some flashes but I would like to see a more consistent effort from those guys and our offensive line. I think this is another one of those moments where we, as a fanbase, just needs to be patient and wait for these guys to "click."
Bryan: This is a concern. While the days of being a primary running team are gone, after all, football is a passing game now. But the Hokies thrive off running the ball to set up the pass. As talented as Logan Thomas is, they need to throw first to set up the run. That is a strength, use it. Be flexible. Part of the running game's problem is the offensive line. The more they play together, the better the running game will be. It did seem lackluster last Saturday against an inferior opponent, though.
HokieG: The reason for concern is memories of all the beat downs we took from the Pitt back in the Big East days. For whatever reason, playing Pitt always made me nervous, even more so than playing Miami. One of my personal worst losses in VT history was when we lost at Pitt in 2004 24-17 the week after beating #2 Miami at home 31-7.
But putting the past aside, I think Pitt is a better team than their results have show the first 2 weeks. They had some bad breaks that killed drives against Youngstown State (which is probably a pretty good FCS team) and then had a short week road game vs Cincy. They aren’t void of talent and if the Hokies come out inept on offense the game could be close. I’ll be living my Big East Pitt nightmares all over again.
JustinC: Whenever you're playing another BCS school, there's always reason for concern. But, Pittsburgh has struggled mightily this season. They've lost to an FCS opponent in Youngstown State and Cincinnati beat them in very similar fashion to how we beat UVA last year. The Panthers are better than their 0-2 record but I just don't think they have to horses to beat us this weekend. Could they keep it close? Yes, but I just don't see Tech losing this game unless we turn the ball over a lot and just really play some bad football.
Plus, Pittsburgh's pass protection is pretty poor and the strength of our defense is in the front seven. You know Bud Foster is going to try to force Pittsburgh to pass, which eliminates their power running game. If our offense can score a few touchdowns, VT should emerge with a 3-0 record this weekend.
Bryan: Bud Foster said it best, Pitt is a wounded animal. And they aren't bereft of talent. They have talented players. Coaching turnover has been an issue there. They have just enough weapons of offense to concern you. Pressure Sunseri early and the game is over. He gets rattled way too easily. Traveling to Pittsburgh has always been tough, Saturday will not be an easy game.
Chris: Yeah, I think there is one concern with Pitt, separate from the concerns I've listed above. If the Hokies don't take Pitt seriously, they could very easily lose. I think those of us that are realists understand that Pitt isn't as bad as they've played over the last two games. Likewise, the Hokies haven't played as well as many projected in the pre-season. So as Bud Foster said this week, they are like wounded animals, and the Hokies need to watch out. The Hokies are certainly the better team, and no one will argue that, but it's all about what you do when you hit the field. If that wasn't the case, sports wouldn't be any fun.
5. Lastly, what's your prediction for this weekend's Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh game?
HokieG: Fairly close game. VT 20 – 10 Pitt.
JustinC: The weather in Pittsburgh on Saturday should be beautiful with a high of 72 and light winds. So, I think this will turn out to be somewhat of an offensive game. I'm taking Virginia Tech by 14 and guessing 34-20.
Bryan: Hokies 24 - Pitt 9
Chris: I went back and forth between 27-10 and 27-17, but I'll go with the latter. Tech will play just well enough to win and the the Panthers will show they're not the worst team in the universe, contrary to the popular opinion on Twitter.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Is there anyway to watch the Tech AT PITT game other than on ESPNU because I do not have that channel? I posted this question earlier in the week and thought I had found the solution but once again I check on my XBOX on the ESPN APP and the game is no longer listed as ones you can watch online. So I went to ESPNWatch.com and I is blacked out in VA online(according to the coverage map) since it is airing on ESPNU. So is there any other way to watch the game tomorrow? Would it possibly be aired on a local channel(such as comcast or the acc network)?
Tyler…I hope you weren’t able to see this crap game. Based on how badly the offensive and defensive lines were dominated you will have many chances this season to see games just like it.
I hate to kick us when were down or especially when we lose a game, but this is why I said I don’t buy into the hype that the sports reporters or Hokie beat writers talk about. We ALWAYS play like crap against teams like this. I haven’t felt confident about going into a Saturday and playing since Bryan Randall left. I know that Tyrod had a remarkable career here before LT got here, but when Glennon took over for our team something change with this entire program’s playing we use to play with so much emotion on the field on Defense now we just kind of go through the motions there is no excitement what so ever. Our program is going to take a hit this year I don’t see us getting to 10 win season this year. And as long as Beamer continues to have our offense play horrible and LT throwing the way he’s throwing we might as well get ready for a down year. I personally hate to blame this game on Beamer, but he’s the head coach which means he’s the face of the team. I’m tired of hearing about how much he’s done for us and if it wasn’t for him. I understand that he’s took this program from nothing to what it is today and I’m thankful for that, but its time for a switch up at VT if were ever going to win a National Championship, because our program is headed in a place that Penn State’s did before the Sandusky stuff. Our program is going to go down until a change is made at Head Coach, no one could tell Paterno it was time for him to leave and when the stuff went down there it gave them a very good reason for him to be fired. I would hate for Beamer to go out losing to inferior teams because its tarnishing his legacy each and every week. I’m sorry for ranting for so long guys I just had to get this off of my chest.
I hate to be the one to say it, but Frank Beamer and staff need to go. There was a time when we let the dogs lose and ran up the score board on anyone. There was a time when we played anyone and never backed down. Now we schedule Pattie cake teams and struggle with them. Frank Beamer and staff have lost the edge, they have lost the hunger, the drive to be the best. Now they settle with winning 10 games a season, and beating up on the smaller ACC schools. When we play a top 10 opponent, we normally get embarrassed. I’m tired of waiting so long for football season to start, only to be let down in week 1,2,or 3. So even though I appreciate what Beamer, Foster and Stinespring have done for the program, its time to pack your bags and go. I think if Nick Saban, Urban Meyer or Les Miles coached at Tech, we would be national contenders every year. We have the talent, just not the coaches. I’m just venting, Hokie for life.
The only thing I would blame on the coaches would be the preparation and lead up to the game. The team always comes out flat and always seems to play down to the opponents level instead of playing to their potential.
Previous seasons I would always get mad when people would say it wasn’t the coaches it was the execution on the field that lost us a game. Well today it was execution on the field. Our players looked slower than Pitt in all aspects of the game.
Oh and I’m sick of hearing the announcers say Marcus Davis is our play maker. He is our potential play maker…when he wants to be. Until he starts consistently making plays he is just another wide receiver.
Just got back to my hotel after the game, had great seats – 40 yard line row K seat 22 on the VT side…so I had a good look at both the game and the side-line interaction. I know everyone is upset over this one, but as I have been saying all year, we are not a good football team. Part of it is player execution but the coaches continuously put this team in bad situations. On Friday I read the above comments from the bloggers “who by the way are protecting their turf as site owners” and laughed last night as I drank beer with other VT fans, knowing we would never cover the 10 point spread, did think we were a better team until today though. Just a quick comment on the game before I leave. We were beat in every phase of the game except punt return. VT has predictable tendencies on both offence and defense, making it very easy for coaches to call plays to either stop us on D or run an effective offence against us. Even my wife knows what plays we are going to call. Anyway, got to go but I have plenty of more comments for next week …most of which will be hard to swallow for most fellow fans..keeping it real
OMG WOW What a ugly loss i agree with u guys the hokies are never prepared to play anymore. It seems like they come out wit no passion and our coaches deserve a …whooping they never seem to get a feel the game or the situation. Foe example after the td on punt return and a three and out by d why not take a shot instead of 2 two runs on 3rd and 4th down i meam a rollout to a tight or something cause its clear our oline was gettn manhandled all day smh!!!!! Why not use Randell more with his speed as mismatch on other teams linebackers? I mean our coaching has become pathetic its rediculous OMG!!!! I dont blame the players we are jus not creative wit playcalling at all. Whatever happened to gettin J.C.out in space wit wit shoryt passes to utilize his quickness? iIm sry jus venting IM PISSED!!!!!!
LT has lost major focus as well i mean he looks terrible!!! We better watch out cause Bowling Green is a better team than Pitt SMDH!!!!!!!!
My thoughts:
1) By far the most missed tackles I have ever seen by a tech defense since watching in 2004. The LSU and Stanford blowouts combined had less than half that many missed tackles. A lot of this was probably due to the shuffling in the secondary and young players playing. But even veteran guys were getting run over.
2) The d-line is a joke. Two games in a row in which they have been pushed around by lesser competition. I don’t blame Pitts success in the passing game on the secondary. Most of those plays were either great throws or great effort by the WRs. The d-line is getting zero pressure on the quarterback- even when we send extra guys.
3) Logan Thomas is off. His pocket presence has been poor. I think the coaches may have put to much on him and the entire offense with all of these different schemes. We need to simplify things and get him easier throws. Also, what happened to rolling LT out?
4) The running backs are not good. There was no comparison between the talent level of Pitts backs vs our backs. A lot of this is blocking, but a lot is the RBs not hitting the right holes and not breaking tackles or making guys miss. On Michael Holmes fumble he hesitated and then hit the wrong hole, and can this guy please keep his feet moving after first contact. I think JC provides us the best option. He wont move the pile, but he has been effective running inbetween the tackles when the blocking has been there and obviously is the best option on the edge.
5) I don’t know if the O-line can be fixed, need to scheme around it. Haven’t converted a single 3rd and short or 4th and short yet this season. Perhaps Benedict can help in this department.
6) Overall, I think the defense will rebound. They just had no passion and the secondary shuffle hurt. I hate to say this, but Bruce Taylor doesn’t look the same and that sucks. Maybe it is his new position. What happened to getting RVD on the field? We need someone to play with passion.
7) The offensive staff needs to be fired, but this is not new news. I have a great idea, lets try to make an offense filled with brand new players master 5 different offensive schemes over summer. These guys are a joke. Show me one other college team that has been successful doing that. The best college offenses have one scheme and run it to perfection. Also, they simply aren’t capable of making in game adjustments and their play calling is very predictable. What we are doing now is not working. We run the pistol a couple of plays and then never come back to it, then we go to the I, then the shotgun, WTF is this. Maybe we need to spread teams out and put randall Dunn on the field bc that has seemed to be all that worked. I also don’t know why we went away from the jet sweeps and motion of the pistol.
i agree with most of what people are saying. My point is not once did i see a coach or player trying to get in anyone face or trying to pump people up. To many attempted arm tackles put your helmet in someones chest. Dline F linebackers D Sec D QB F RB F WR C OLINE F MY GRADES
Hey CZ…If Dunn hasn’t convinced the coaches he is worthy to play more downs shouldn’t that be a sign? I mean the coaches think they have the best people on the field. Nice wide open drop by Dunn by the way. If he can’t block he has to catch.
Let’s face it no one is getting fired any time soon. Maybe they should dumb down the blocking scheme for the OLine since they looked completely lost. I like the quick slant passes and I hope they go to that earlier in the game from now on.
Bud’s going to rip into the defense this week so hopefully we won’t see that bad of a performance again.